San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-03-10
Temperance and Prohibition.
Concluded from Las, Week,

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government TO increase tho army and es
tablish oncampments from which to strike
quick blows?
What has caused all this? Dissatisfaction
and turbulence of workingmen? And who.
pray, is the dissatisfied and turbulent work
ingman? II is he who spends his earnings
in drink and becomes idle, worthless and an
enemy to society.
1t certainly is not he who is industrious,
frugal and temperate, who saves his money
and leads a virtuous life, who knows he
lives under the best government in the
world, in country where man earns more
and gets more for what he earns than any
country ON earth, and that If any institu-
tions or laws injure him he eau change them,
because he is the iaw-maSer.
The United Order of Workingmen OF
Knights of Labor, which has tho noblest
purposes, has officially declared against
both liquor and turbulence. Its leader,
VINO is one of our best and greatest men,
declares that lNboring men can only redress
their grievances aud improve their condi
tion by letting liquor alone, working indus
triously, saving their earnings, and seeking
their rights only through peacable organiza
ton aud combination. and by voting only
only for honest, sober, liquor-hating mer
for Legislative, judicial and executive Offices
have often asked intelligent mechanics
why they did not read more, and the reply
would invariably be, Cant afford it,
"What! earning three dollars day and
can't afford 1t? How much do you spend
for liquor?" 'Well, ten dollars month :
With that sum q man can take his local
daily, a metropolitan daily, half dozen
weekly aud monthly periodicals, buy Ii
brary of standard books and pay the preach
err more than he gets from some of the rich
est sheep in his flock.
Last year GO0, 900, 900 glasses of vile, poi
sonous beer were consumed in the city OF
Chicago. Is it any wonder that the non
drinking and property y-owning classes OF
that city are calling for garrison OF United
States troops to protect their lives aud
property?
The traffic embraces a number of classes
and features, some of which we may notice.
All individuals connected with it are guilty
of the evil, and are morally and religiously
about on the same footing. The conse-
quences flowing from their acts, however,
are not equally disastrous. The imitator,
tho adulterator and the poisoner are to be
censured most. The last is the arch-fiend
of the liquor world. The manufacturer
supplies the liquor, and the wholesale deal
er distributes to the retail trade, to which
they also extend credit and financial aid.
The retailer is the active agent who builds
up and increases the traffic. His power for
evil is very great, and he wields 1t with
deadly effect in the promotion of his tinan-
cial interests The consumer is the foun
dation of the entire structure, for from his
pocket and patronage comes the support oi
all the others.
He drinks the liquor and does the mis-
chief to society. Whatever evil the Others
do they accomplish through him. Every
man who takes his drink in or out of 81.
loon and pays for it, gives his money, ex-
ample and influence to maintain and increase
the traffic. Whenever he shall withdraw
from il, the whole infamous business will
90 back to where it came from and where
it be.ongs-the Pit of Destruction.
The saloon may be defined as the place
where liquor is sold or distributed for fl
nancial consideration, at retail, aud con-
sumed 1t is by far the most destructive of
all the features or factors of the liquor traf-
fc. 1t is the great offensive and defensive
instrument or agency through which all the
other fort es of the traffic work. Through
it the evil energies of all the others are
brought into full play, and the evil infu-
ences of all are expressed i'll 1t and flow
from it. 1t is the arch'temptor to drink
and dissipation. 1t is the close ally of the
bagnio and the gambling-den, 1t is the
great destroyer of Gelf-contrOl or temper
ance. 1t is tho enticer, the inveigler, the
corruptor of innocence. 1t is the trap, the
snare, the net for the needless and unwary.
It is the deceitful Jack O'Lantern to the
young and guileless wayfarer. 1t is the
SPIDERS web in the way of the careless and
unsuspecting
It's social attractions, its comforts, con-
veniences and epicurean features, give the
snloon much Of its great power for evil
Competition, and his own shrewdness, and
desire for gain, are incentives TO the retailer
to surround his business with every posi-
BILE attraction to the senses.
In frontier town barrel of liquor and
q few glasses secure all the custom to be
had. In our larger towns music, paintings,
frescoes, statuary, carved furniture, carpets,
silyerware, cut glass and mirrors are brought
into service. Sugar, ice, the lemon and
many other palatable additions to liquor
give a tempting charm to the taste and are
strong inducements to excessive indulgence.
The social custom of treating, which has
fastened itself in the saloon, creates an
enormous increase in tho consumption of Ii
quor. No man can be prevailed upon 10
take n drink of water when he does not need
it, but most men will readily swallow O
dozen drinks of poison il they don't cost
ANYTHING, Low priced lunch and refresh
ment rooms, libraries, lecturo-halls, gym
nasiums, in and outdoor pleasure-resorts
are powerful anti saloon agencies. One OF
the most dangerous features Of the saloon is
IT'S evil associations. The influences and
effects of the saloon upon society are alto.
gether bad. There is not one redeeming
feature about it. Not one excuse for its eK-
istence. IL is the deadly aud powerful enemy
Of all that is beautiful. good ami true-puro,
sacred and holy-in heaven md ON earth
Over Il are the shadow of de 4olation, dark
ness and horror. In il dwell murder, bias
pheny and the furies.
No wonder that popular sentiment de-
clares that this saloon must, ought and shall
gol No wonder that the quickencd con-
science and aroused Will 81 the people cry
out, Away with H.
The people have one aim AMI are divided
only as 10 methods. They are rising Ia ac-
ton. and sDon they viii strike together. II
Is not acoorIing TO the laws q nature. and
of natures God. that any great mOral move
ment should fail
The evoluilon o. great rnOrai and sI,irit1ll
IDEAS and forces j. s1Fift and p1Esrful IN
this age of the pnlpit. the forum. the dnIly
the telegTaIhs The TallSAy and
the posto15ce.
All the women aud clIilirsn % the Uni
tea State are IN league hgafnst the h4ssr
trlfic. Tbe WoDau's ClIrlstiaH Temperance
Union bis become ore e or most p0re--
ful asspciafiJls IN the cagss q Temperance.
The Church of Rome, whieh. vScwsi as q
harnan force alone = tie moe powerful